Kinetic energy can change in a collision even though momentum doesn't, because:

  1. momentum is a scalar
  2. momentum depends on v^2
  3. kinetic energy is a scalar that can be converted to other forms, while momentum is a vector with no other forms
  4. kinetic energy is always conserved
Answer

C) kinetic energy is a scalar that can be converted to other forms, while momentum is a vector with no other forms

Momentum has no 'other form' to convert into. SLO P-11-B-13 · Application

Physics MCQ · More Momentum and Collisions MCQs · Practise